Cars Towed, Traffic Flows

Life Goes On Without Wacker

Some of the most serious traffic tie-ups arising from the rebuilding of Wacker Drive occurred Monday on the lower section of the renowned double-decker road where a procession of tow trucks hauled illegally parked vehicles to the city's central auto pound.

As commuters got their first taste of what rush hour would be like with a major artery closed, what they discovered was all those predictions of a traffic meltdown may have been premature.

"I didn't see any real gridlock," said Chicago Police Lt. Edward Lanuti. "If we keep this up, it will work out well."

Still, 119 vehicles that were illegally parked were hauled away by Streets and Sanitation trucks between 6 a.m. and 3 p.m. in the Loop, up from about 70 on an average weekday. Because of the Wacker project, the city had imposed strict rules that banned parking on most streets in the Loop during the morning and afternoon rush.

But the number of towed vehicles fell well below the expectations of many police and transportation officials who had braced for a major commotion over the closing of both levels of Wacker between Michigan Avenue and Randolph Street. The two levels will remain closed until next year while crews rebuild the 75-year-old road, a project that is expected to take 20 months to complete.The two big mysteries Monday centered on where all the commuters went--both Metra and the CTA reported normal ridership levels--and when the much-anticipated traffic storm will wash over the downtown.

"For this week at least, we are going to act like every day is the first day of the Wacker project," said Denise Casalino, the city's project manager for the $200 million top-to-bottom Wacker rehab. "We're kind of on edge until we see what is going to happen."

If motorists follow the pattern seen during other major road projects, such as the repairing of the Stevenson and Eisenhower Expressways, they will look for alternatives, then slink back to their old habits when they see the situation isn't so bad.

On Monday, some commuters did heed the warnings, adding extra travel time and steering away from the most congested streets. They were aided by legions of police officers and traffic aides--50 percent more than is customary--that the city is putting on the street during the project."It took me 15 minutes to circle a block, but I had planned ahead for that," said John Theis, an attorney who drove to his Loop office from the North Side.

Police said traffic volumes were considerably higher during the morning and evening rushes on the recommended alternate streets leading in and out of the downtown, such as Washington, Randolph and Ontario Streets and Congress Parkway. But many drivers seemed to adjust.

"It would make life a lot easier if more people used public transportation, but we've got the traffic moving pretty good," said Chicago Police Sgt. Joseph Sepulveda. "The ticketing and towing helps get the message across."

Officials said they would not compile a count of all the vehicles that were ticketed or towed until Tuesday. Traffic data for the major expressways to the Loop were also unavailable Monday.

And it was difficult to gauge whether the horn-honking, tailgating and turns made from the wrong lane observed Monday marked a deviation from normal driving patterns in the Loop. However, Virginia Montgomery thought so.

"The drivers are usually not this aggressive up here," Montgomery said after bicycling to work at a coin shop at Clark and Washington Streets. "Washington was really crowded, and it was way more desperate out there."

City Transportation Commissioner Miguel d'Escoto said a lot of drivers likely heeded the advice to follow the marked detour signs downtown and to have secondary backup plans ready if the suggested routes are too congested. Asked what he would advise people planning to drive on Tuesday, d'Escoto said: "Be patient as you come in. Maybe play a CD and have a cup of coffee while driving so you're a little bit relaxed."

Not everyone was humming tunes and sipping java Monday.

Miriam Kenady, 21, a student at Harold Washington College who had parked in an alley between Wacker and Lake Street while she ran inside to pay her tuition, returned to find her car on the hook of a tow truck.

"Usually there's no problem parking there when I just have to run in really quickly. I wish I had known they would be out here like this," she said after several unsuccessful attempts at persuading the tow truck driver to let her car go.